VIZ MEDIA ACQUIRES BELOVED ANIMATED SERIES “RWBY”
Rooster Teeth and Warner Bros. Discovery Solidify Bright Future for Global Franchise
San Francisco, Calif. and Austin, TX–July 5, 2024–VIZ Media today announced its acquisition of RWBY, the internationally recognized independent animated series created by the late Monty Oum and produced by Rooster Teeth.
Since its inception, the RWBY franchise has captivated audiences worldwide, accumulating over 350 million global views across platforms, with episodes averaging more than 7 million views. Fans have followed Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang since the series debut in 2013. Since then, the world of “RWBY” has expanded its IP into print media, video games, merchandise, and multiple spinoffs, including “RWBY: Ice Queendom,” and two crossover "Justice League x RWBY" films.
VIZ Media and Rooster Teeth first partnered in 2016, announcing a publishing partnership to develop a new manga series from famed mangaka Shirow Miwa. From there, VIZ deepened its ties to the brand by releasing a series of acclaimed RWBY manga titles, as well as the beloved "The World of RWBY" compendium book.
“Warner Bros. Discovery and Rooster Teeth prioritized an acquisition with a company that deeply values the RWBY community and the franchise’s legacy,” said Rooster Teeth General Manager Jordan Levin. “VIZ Media stood out with its strong vision for RWBY’s future, placing the brand among the most groundbreaking manga and anime content in the world.”
Rooster Teeth produced 117 episodes of the series, with its 9th volume running in 2023. VIZ Media will now explore the production of new chapters of the series. The company owns rights for future distribution, production, licensing, and consumer products.
“VIZ has been a committed partner in expanding the RWBY universe across various formats and territories,” said Kerry Shawcross, RWBY Showrunner and Co-Creator. “There are still numerous stories, battles, and Grimm awaiting our Huntresses, and it’s an honor to be able to work with a longstanding collaborator on RWBY’s future.”
“RWBY has a distinctive story and style that has resonated with fans worldwide,” said VIZ Media’s Brian Ige, SVP of Animation. “We are excited to continue the ongoing saga of Team RWBY by reaching new audiences and exploring the expansion of the universe in bold new ways.”
As a global pioneer, RWBY was the first anime series produced in the US (2013) and the first Western-produced anime to be dubbed and distributed in Japan (2014).
VIZ Media will announce more plans for the beloved series later this year. For more information, visit Viz.com/RWBY and follow @VIZmedia across social channels.
About “RWBY”
In a world filled with horrific monsters bent on death and destruction, humanity's hope lies with powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long are four such Huntresses in training whose journeys will take them far past the grounds of their school, Beacon Academy. Though each may be powerful on their own, these four girls must overcome dark forces and work as a team if they truly hope to become the next generation of Remnant's protectors.
Created in 2013 by the late animator and writer Monty Oum, RWBY is celebrated as the first anime series produced in the US (2013) and the first western-produced anime to be dubbed and distributed in Japan (2014). The series has received international acclaim, growing from an animated web series to a global anime franchise with content extending across publishing, video games, and merchandise, as well as spinoffs RWBY Chibi, RWBY: Ice Queendom, and two direct-to-video crossover with DC’s Justice League.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Wherever manga and anime fans are, we are! VIZ Media is No. 1 in Japanese pop culture, introducing fans to what’s now, new, and next. Home to the world’s most influential and groundbreaking storytellers and artists, who today drive multiple industries from publishing and animation to film and gaming.
VIZ Media is proudly certified as a Most Loved Workplace® in America and Inc Magazine’s Best Workplaces. For more information on VIZ Media visit: https://www.viz.com/
About Rooster Teeth
Rooster Teeth is a fan-driven, community-built entertainment company. From humble origins in a spare bedroom, Rooster Teeth created the web series Red vs. Blue, an innovative form of entertainment for a changing media landscape that sparked the growth of a passionate global fandom. From that foundation, Rooster Teeth pioneered a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand for its growing online following with subscriptions, advertising, e-commerce, and live events. Rooster Teeth produces several original content series, including RWBY, the most popular western-style anime series today, The Rooster Teeth Podcast, and daily video series featuring an in-house cast of influential talent. With broadcast and live-action production capabilities and a world-class animation studio, Rooster Teeth engages industry-leading networks, streaming entertainment services, and creative talent to develop projects that reach global audiences through its Studios division. Rooster Teeth has a massive global footprint of more than 45 million subscribers to its YouTube Network, 1.2 million unique monthly visitors across its apps, and more than 4 million registered community members. The company was founded in 2003 and is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Discover more at RoosterTeeth.com.
